Surf tab

Abstract

A wake-shaping system comprising a one or more surf tabs attached to a watercraft. The one or more surf tabs comprise at least a first surf tab. The first surf tab comprises an upper plate, a mounting hinge, a lower portion, a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket. A hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins. further, the first surf tab comprises a leading edge, a trailing edge, an interior side, an exterior side, a top side and a bottom side. The upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of the watercraft with the mounting hinge. The watercraft travels through a water in a direction of travel. The leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to the direction of travel and the trailing edge comprises a rearward portion.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A wake-shaping system, comprising:
 a one or more surf tabs attached to a watercraft; 
 said one or more surf tabs comprise at least a first surf tab; 
 said first surf tab comprises
 an upper plate, 
 a mounting hinge, 
 a lower portion, 
 a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket, and 
 a hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins; 
 
 further, said first surf tab comprises
 a leading edge, 
 a trailing edge, 
 an interior side, 
 an exterior side, 
 a top side and 
 a bottom side; 
 
 said upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of said watercraft with said mounting hinge; 
 said watercraft travels through a water in a direction of travel; 
 said leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said trailing edge comprises a rearward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said watercraft comprises a centerline dividing a starboard side from a port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is configured for
 receiving a portion of said water as a fluid-in, 
 channeling a portion of said water through a portion of said first surf tab, and 
 ejecting a portion of said water out of said hydro-thruster assembly in a direction being rearward and outward of said centerline of said watercraft; 
 
 said interior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs closest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 said exterior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs furthest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 each of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprise an upper portions and a lower portions; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins situated between a portion of said upper plate and a lower bracket; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises a wedge shape; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises
 a first height at said interior edge, and 
 a second height at said exterior edge; and 
 
 said first height is smaller than said second height. 
 
     
     
       2. The wake-shaping system of  claim 1 , wherein,
 said mounting hinge is operable to rotatably adjust an angle of said one or more surf tabs relative to said watercraft between a deployed position and a non-deployed position; 
 with said first surf tab in said deployed position, a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly is submerged in said water; 
 with said first surf tab in said non-deployed position, a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly is not submerged in said water; and 
 with a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly submerged in said water said first surf tab is configured to divert a portion of said water outward and rearward of said watercraft. 
 
     
     
       3. The wake-shaping system of  claim 2 , wherein,
 said mounting hinge comprises a piano-type hinge. 
 
     
     
       4. The wake-shaping system of  claim 1 , wherein,
 each of said one or more surf tabs further comprise a one or more actuators; 
 said one or more actuators comprise at least a first actuator; 
 said first mounting bracket is attached to said top side of said first surf tab; 
 said first actuator comprises a first end and a second end; 
 said first end of said first actuator attaches to said first surf tab at said first mounting bracket; and 
 said second end of said first actuator attaches to a portion of said watercraft. 
 
     
     
       5. The wake-shaping system of  claim 4 , wherein,
 said mounting hinge is operable to rotatably adjust an angle of said one or more surf tabs relative to said watercraft; 
 said one or more actuators are operable to move said one or more surf tabs between a deployed position and a non-deployed position; 
 said first surf tab is configured to rotate on said mounting hinge between said deployed position and said non-deployed position; 
 with said first surf tab in said deployed position, a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly is submerged in said water; 
 with said first surf tab in said non-deployed position, a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly is not submerged in said water; and 
 with a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly submerged in said water said first surf tab is configured to divert a portion of said water outward and rearward of said watercraft. 
 
     
     
       6. The wake-shaping system of  claim 4 , wherein,
 said one or more actuators are electric linear actuators; and 
 said one or more actuators are operable to be electrically controlled to raise and lower said one or more surf tabs on said mounting hinge. 
 
     
     
       7. The wake-shaping system of  claim 1 , wherein,
 portions of said one or more surf tabs comprise welded aluminum. 
 
     
     
       8. The wake-shaping system of  claim 1 , wherein,
 said one or more surf tabs comprise said first surf tab and a second surf tab; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said second surf tab is mounted on the opposite side of said centerline relative to said first surf tab; 
 said second surf tab is configured to be a mirror image of said first surf tab relative to said centerline; and 
 said first surf tab and said second surf tab each comprise
 said hydro-thruster assembly configured to direct said fluid-out toward said exterior edge, 
 said upper plate, 
 said mounting hinge, 
 said lower portion, and 
 said one or more mounting brackets comprising at least said first mounting bracket. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The wake-shaping system of  claim 1 , wherein,
 shaping a wave behind said watercraft by
 driving said watercraft through a portion of said water, 
 pulling said first surf tab through a portion of said water, 
 diverting a portion of said fluid-out with said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins into a plurality of fluid channels being directed outward relative to said centerline of said watercraft, 
 creating a first pressure area proximate to said centerline interior to said first surf tab which combines with a second pressure area along side of said watercraft, 
 missing said first pressure area and said second pressure area to as to create a wave behind said watercraft; further wherein, 
 
 said first pressure area is a lower pressure than said second pressure area. 
 
     
     
       10. A method of using a wake-shaping system comprising:
 procuring a one or more surf tabs comprising at least a first surf tab, 
 mounting a mounting hinge of said first surf tab to a transom of a watercraft, 
 transporting and launching said watercraft on a surface of a water, 
 motioning said watercraft in a direction of travel across said water, 
 receiving a portion of said water into a leading edge of said first surf tab as a fluid-in, 
 channeling a portion of said water through a portion of said first surf tab, and 
 ejecting a portion of said water out of a hydro-thruster assembly of said first surf tab in a direction being rearward and outward of a centerline of said watercraft; wherein, 
 said first surf tab comprises
 an upper plate, 
 said mounting hinge, 
 a lower portion, 
 a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket, 
 said hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins, 
 said leading edge, 
 a trailing edge, 
 an interior side, 
 an exterior side, 
 a top side and 
 a bottom side; 
 
 said upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of said watercraft with said mounting hinge; 
 said watercraft travels through said water in said direction of travel; 
 said leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said trailing edge comprises a rearward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said watercraft comprises said centerline dividing a starboard side from a port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said interior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs closest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 said exterior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs furthest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 each of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprise an upper portions and a lower portions; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins situated between a portion of said upper plate and a lower bracket; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab; 
 shaping a wave behind said watercraft by
 driving said watercraft through a portion of said water, 
 pulling said first surf tab through a portion of said water, 
 diverting a portion of said fluid-out with said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins into a plurality of fluid channels being directed outward relative to said centerline of said watercraft, 
 creating a first pressure area proximate to said centerline interior to said first surf tab which combines with a second pressure area along side of said watercraft, 
 missing said first pressure area and said second pressure area to as to create a wave behind said watercraft; 
 
 said first pressure area is a lower pressure than said second pressure area; and 
 said wave is further shaped by
 dividing up said fluid-out into said plurality of fluid channels with said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins, and 
 decreasing the size of said plurality of fluid channels with the larger channels being proximate to said centerline and the smaller channels being further from said centerline. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein,
 rotatably adjusting an angle of said first surf tab relative to said watercraft with said mounting hinge between a deployed position and a non-deployed position; wherein, 
 with said first surf tab in said deployed position, a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly is submerged in said water; 
 with said first surf tab in said non-deployed position, a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly is not submerged in said water; and 
 with a portion of said hydro-thruster assembly submerged in said water said first surf tab is configured to divert a portion of said water outward and rearward of said watercraft. 
 
     
     
       12. A wake-shaping system, comprising:
 a one or more surf tabs attached to a watercraft; 
 said one or more surf tabs comprise at least a first surf tab; 
 said first surf tab comprises
 an upper plate, 
 a mounting hinge, 
 a lower portion, 
 a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket, and 
 a hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins; 
 
 further, said first surf tab comprises
 a leading edge, 
 a trailing edge, 
 an interior side, 
 an exterior side, 
 a top side and 
 a bottom side; 
 
 said upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of said watercraft with said mounting hinge; 
 said watercraft travels through a water in a direction of travel; 
 said leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said trailing edge comprises a rearward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said watercraft comprises a centerline dividing a starboard side from a port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is configured for
 receiving a portion of said water as a fluid-in, 
 channeling a portion of said water through a portion of said first surf tab, and 
 ejecting a portion of said water out of said hydro-thruster assembly in a direction being rearward and outward of said centerline of said watercraft; 
 
 said interior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs closest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 said exterior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs furthest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 each of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprise an upper portions and a lower portions; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins situated between a portion of said upper plate and a lower bracket; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab; and 
 said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprises a first hydro-thruster diversion fin, a second hydro-thruster diversion fin, a third hydro-thruster diversion fin, and fourth hydro-thruster diversion fin. 
 
     
     
       13. The wake-shaping system of  claim 12 , wherein,
 said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins each comprise a leading edge and a trailing edge; 
 said trailing edges of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins are arranged closer to said exterior edge of said first surf tab than said leading edges of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins; and 
 thus, said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins are arranged to thrust said fluid-out in an outward direction rearward of said exterior edge of said first surf tab. 
 
     
     
       14. A wake-shaping system, comprising:
 a one or more surf tabs attached to a watercraft; 
 said one or more surf tabs comprise at least a first surf tab; 
 said first surf tab comprises
 an upper plate, 
 a mounting hinge, 
 a lower portion, 
 a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket, and 
 a hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins; 
 
 further, said first surf tab comprises
 a leading edge, 
 a trailing edge, 
 an interior side, 
 an exterior side, 
 a top side and 
 a bottom side; 
 
 said upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of said watercraft with said mounting hinge; 
 said watercraft travels through a water in a direction of travel; 
 said leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said trailing edge comprises a rearward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said watercraft comprises a centerline dividing a starboard side from a port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is configured for
 receiving a portion of said water as a fluid-in, 
 channeling a portion of said water through a portion of said first surf tab, and 
 ejecting a portion of said water out of said hydro-thruster assembly in a direction being rearward and outward of said centerline of said watercraft; 
 
 said interior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs closest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 said exterior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs furthest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 each of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprise an upper portions and a lower portions; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins situated between a portion of said upper plate and a lower bracket; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab; 
 said upper plate comprises an inside tab and an outside tab; 
 said inside tab and said outside tab are within a front half of said upper plate proximate to said leading edge; 
 said upper plate comprises a substantially planar sheet of metal being cut to include said inside tab and said outside tab; 
 said inside tab and said outside tab of said upper plate are bent down to be at a right angle with respect to the rest of said upper plate; 
 said inside tab comprises a portion of said interior edge of said first surf tab; and 
 said outside tab comprises a portion of said outside edge of said first surf tab. 
 
     
     
       15. A wake-shaping system, comprising:
 a one or more surf tabs attached to a watercraft; 
 said one or more surf tabs comprise at least a first surf tab; 
 said first surf tab comprises
 an upper plate, 
 a mounting hinge, 
 a lower portion, 
 a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket, and 
 a hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins; 
 
 further, said first surf tab comprises
 a leading edge, 
 a trailing edge, 
 an interior side, 
 an exterior side, 
 a top side and 
 a bottom side; 
 
 said upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of said watercraft with said mounting hinge; 
 said watercraft travels through a water in a direction of travel; 
 said leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said trailing edge comprises a rearward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said watercraft comprises a centerline dividing a starboard side from a port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is configured for
 receiving a portion of said water as a fluid-in, 
 channeling a portion of said water through a portion of said first surf tab, and 
 ejecting a portion of said water out of said hydro-thruster assembly in a direction being rearward and outward of said centerline of said watercraft; 
 
 said interior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs closest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 said exterior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs furthest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 each of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprise an upper portions and a lower portions; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins situated between a portion of said upper plate and a lower bracket; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab; 
 said upper plate comprises an upper plate slots; 
 said lower bracket comprises a lower bracket slots; 
 said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins each comprise
 an upper portions and 
 a lower portions; 
 
 a portion of said upper portions are configured to slide into said upper plate slots; 
 a portion of said lower portions are configured to slide into said lower bracket slots; and 
 said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins are arranged between said upper plate and said lower bracket. 
 
     
     
       16. A wake-shaping system, comprising:
 a one or more surf tabs attached to a watercraft; 
 said one or more surf tabs comprise at least a first surf tab; 
 said first surf tab comprises
 an upper plate, 
 a mounting hinge, 
 a lower portion, 
 a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket, and 
 a hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins; 
 
 further, said first surf tab comprises
 a leading edge, 
 a trailing edge, 
 an interior side, 
 an exterior side, 
 a top side and 
 a bottom side; 
 
 said upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of said watercraft with said mounting hinge; 
 said watercraft travels through a water in a direction of travel; 
 said leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said trailing edge comprises a rearward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said watercraft comprises a centerline dividing a starboard side from a port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is configured for
 receiving a portion of said water as a fluid-in, 
 channeling a portion of said water through a portion of said first surf tab, and 
 ejecting a portion of said water out of said hydro-thruster assembly in a direction being rearward and outward of said centerline of said watercraft; 
 
 said interior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs closest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 said exterior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs furthest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 each of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprise an upper portions and a lower portions; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins situated between a portion of said upper plate and a lower bracket; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab; 
 said lower bracket is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab and below said upper plate; 
 said lower bracket comprises a planar sheet of metal having an inside tab at said interior edge of said first surf tab; 
 said inside tab is bent up at a right angle relative to the rest of said lower bracket; and 
 said inside tab contains a portion of said fluid-out of said first surf tab so as to channel it outward rather than inward at said interior edge. 
 
     
     
       17. A wake-shaping system, comprising:
 a one or more surf tabs attached to a watercraft; 
 said one or more surf tabs comprise at least a first surf tab; 
 said first surf tab comprises
 an upper plate, 
 a mounting hinge, 
 a lower portion, 
 a one or more mounting brackets comprising at least a first mounting bracket, and 
 a hydro-thruster assembly having a one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins; 
 
 further, said first surf tab comprises
 a leading edge, 
 a trailing edge, 
 an interior side, 
 an exterior side, 
 a top side and 
 a bottom side; 
 
 said upper plate is rotatably attached to a portion of said watercraft with said mounting hinge; 
 said watercraft travels through a water in a direction of travel; 
 said leading edge comprises a forward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said trailing edge comprises a rearward portion of first surf tab relative to said direction of travel; 
 said watercraft comprises a centerline dividing a starboard side from a port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is mounted either on said starboard side and/or said port side of said watercraft; 
 said first surf tab is configured for
 receiving a portion of said water as a fluid-in, 
 channeling a portion of said water through a portion of said first surf tab, and 
 ejecting a portion of said water out of said hydro-thruster assembly in a direction being rearward and outward of said centerline of said watercraft; 
 
 said interior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs closest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 said exterior edge comprises a portion of said one or more surf tabs furthest to said centerline of said watercraft; 
 each of said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins comprise an upper portions and a lower portions; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly comprises said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins situated between a portion of said upper plate and a lower bracket; 
 said hydro-thruster assembly is attached at said trailing edge of said first surf tab; and 
 said wave is further shaped by
 dividing up said fluid-out into said plurality of fluid channels with said one or more hydro-thruster diversion fins, and 
 decreasing the size of said plurality of fluid channels with the larger channels being proximate to said centerline and the smaller channels being further from said centerline.